Mandevilla plant named ‘MAN216901’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘MAN216901’, characterized by its upright and vining plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; glossy green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; and large bright white-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla sanderi.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MAN216901’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla sanderi and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘MAN216901’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Mandevilla plants with large and attractive flowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in August, 2011 of a proprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code number 11-0006, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with a proprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code number 11-0001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in May, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, since August, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘MAN216901’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘MAN216901’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

-   -   1. Upright and vining plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Glossy green-colored leaves.     -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Large bright white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have light pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower size as plants of the new Mandevilla have larger flowers than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of Mandevilla sanderi ‘Fisrix White’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants ‘Fisrix White’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla flower earlier than plants of         ‘Fisrix White’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Fisrix White’.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Fisrix White’.     -   4. Plants of the new Mandevilla and ‘Fisrix White’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Fisrix White’ have light pink-         colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘MAN216901’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘MAN216901’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring in 19-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of Mandevilla commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were pinched one time and were ten months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla sanderi ‘MAN216901’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             sanderi identified as code number 11-0006, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             sanderi identified as code number 11-0001, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 21 days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 27 days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 40 days             at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 50 days             at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous to slightly             fleshy; typically white in color, actual color of the roots             is dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizers, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and vining plant habit;             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 50             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 60             cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 40 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching habit with about four primary each with about             three to five secondary lateral branches developing per             plant. Length: About 30 cm to 40 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Internode length: About 2 cm to 4 cm. Strength: Strong.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy becoming             woody and matte with development. Color, developing: Close             to 143B. Color, developed: Close to 147C; when woody, close             to 177D. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 6 cm to 7 cm.         -   Width.—About 4 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; leathery; glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146C. Full             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139B; main vein,             close to 143C and lateral venation, close to 139B. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B; main vein,             close to 143C and lateral venation, close to 146B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 143C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arranged in axillary cymes; flowers star-shaped and face             upright to outwardly; freely flowering habit with about             eight to nine flowers per inflorescence and about 180             flowers developing per plant during the flowering season.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from             late spring into late autumn in The Netherlands; plants             begin flowering about seven months after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten to twelve days;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 15 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 15 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm.             Shape: Elongated spindle-shaped. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 145B; towards the             base, close to 145D.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused and             five-parted. Diameter: About 8 cm to 9 cm. Depth (length):             About 4 cm to 6 cm. Throat diameter: About 1.5 cm. Tube             length: About 4 cm to 5 cm. Tube diameter, distally: About 4             mm.         -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a             single whorl; proximal portion of the petals are fused into             a tube; fee portions imbricate. Petal length: About 4 cm to             4.5 cm. Petal width: About 3 cm to 3.5 cm. Petal shape and             appearance: Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Acute. Petal             margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.             Throat and tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal,             when opening, upper surface: Initially, close to 145D             becoming closer to 155C with development. Petal, when             opening, lower surface: Close to 155C. Petal, fully opened,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 155C; venation, close to             155C; color does not change with development. Throat: Close             to 2B; venation, close to 2B. Tube: Close to between 2D and             155C; venation, close to 155C.         -   Calyx.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a             single whorl; calyx, star-shaped. Length: About 5 mm to             8 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Sepal length: About 4 mm to             6 mm. Sepal width: About 2 mm. Sepal shape: Subulate. Sepal             apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.             Sepal color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 145A. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             145A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm             to 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 30° from peduncle axis.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close             to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:             Typically five; basifixed; anthers connivent. Filament             color: Close to 12D. Anther length: About 6 mm to 8 mm.             Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther color: Close to 12D.             Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 12D.             Pistils: Quantity: Typically one. Pistil length: About 1 cm             to 1.5 cm. Style color: Close to 150B. Stigma shape:             Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 150D. Ovary color: Close             to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Mandevilla. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not     been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Mandevilla plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from 1° C. to 45° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘MAN216901’ as illustrated and described. 